Ice maker of the endless flexible belt type



Aug. 10, 1965 J BRUBAKER 3,199,309

ICE MAKER OF THE ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT TYPE 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Oct.29, 1962 I N V ENTOR. JAMES E BRUBAKER v ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1965 FBRUBAKER 3,199,309.

ICE MAKER OF THE ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT TYPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.29, 1962 INVENTOR. MES E BIN/BAKE}? ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1965 J. F.BRUBAKER 39 9 ICE MAKER OF THE ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT TYPE Filed Oct. 29,1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q00 l\ 6 11 N u, \9 7 N w R; I v \1 m a J G L5 9 4I u Q m w \s Lg I Pal INVENTOR. JAMES E BRI/BAKEI? g 10, 1965 J. F.BRUBAKER $399,399

ICE MAKER OF THE ENDLESS FLEXIBLE BELT TYPE Filed Oct. 29, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 4 27 123 /Z9 /25 94 9 INVENTOR.

/3 JAMES f. BRUBA/(El? ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice PatentedAug. lib, 1955 3,199,339 ICE MAKER 9F ENDLEEES FLEKEELE BELT TYPE JamesBrubaker, Dayton, @hio, assignor to General Motors Qorporation, Detroit,hlich, a corp-oration of Delaware Filed Oct. 29, 1962. Ser. No. 233,5587 Qlaims. (Cl. 522-345) This application repeats the disclosure inrevised form and adds certain features to the belt type ice makerdisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 85,028, and nowabandoned, filed January 26, 1961.

This invention pertains to refrigerating apparatus and more particularlyto the freezing and storage of frozen pellets.

Since air-cooled, frost-free, below-freezing compartments are mostpopular and least troublesome and command the highest price, it isdesirable to make an ice maker available as an optional added featurefor such models. it is also desirable that models with and without icemakers be identical as far as possible to minimize productiondifliculties and costs. It is also desirable to provide an ice makerwhich can be installed without difficulty in existing refrigerators.

it is also desirable that the refrigeration load enclosed by the icemaker be kept as low as possible with as little interference with themaintenance of suitable refrigerating temperatures as possible. There isalso a need for preventing the operation of the ice maker when there isinsufficient cooling to complete the freezing of the ice pellets.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a simple, inexpensive,efficient, belt type ice maker cooled by the cold air in a frost-free,below-freezing compartment a means for prolonging the time provided forfreezing the pellets.

it is another object of this invention to provide an improved heattransfer between the liquid to be frozen and the cold air provided forcooling the liquid.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a simple, ice makercooled by the cold air in a frost-free, below-freezing compartment ameans for preventing the operation of the ice maker and the delivery ofthe liquid to be frozen when the air is not cold enough to completelyfreeze the pellets.

t is another object of this invention to provide in a simple,inerpensive, e'ificient, belt type ice maker cooled by the cold air in afrost-free, below-freezing compartment a supplementary cooling meanswhich can also be used for adjusting the tension on the belt.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive,efficient, belt-type ice maker having greater capacity by maintainingthe freezing of the liquid in the receptacle through cold air throughoutthe major portions of both the upper and lower passes of the belt.

It is another object of this invention to provide a belttype ice makerwith a simple, inexpensive, water-measuring and water-filling system forfilling each receptacle with a measured amount of Water which ismechanically interlocked with and operated by the belt drive in such away that each receptacle is properly located when filled.

It is another object of this invention to provide a belttype ice makerupon a door arranged in such a way that the ice pellets as well as theremaining contents of the below-freezing storage compartment are fullyaccessible without wasting any storage space.

it is another object of this invention to provide a control in the formof a simple, inexpensive, plunger-type snap-action switch which willstop the liquid supply and the delivery of the frozen pellets wheneverthe storage container is either removed or full and which will cntinuethe liquid supply and delivery of the frozen pellets subject tosatisfactory freezing conditions whenever the storage container is inposition to receive the pellets and is not full.

These and other objects are attained in the form shown in the drawingsin which a belt-type ice maker is mounted on the inner face of the door.The liquid to be frozen is supplied through a flexible tube extendingthrough the hinge portion of the door to a measuring container mountedin the door. The belt is driven by an electric motor through a sprocketshaft and a sprocket. The sprocket shaft has a six-lobed cam within thedoor first operating the inlet valve to the measuring container andsecond operating the discharge valve of the measuring container whichcontrols the flow into the receptacles in the belt which are positionedin proper coordination through the sprockets. A thermostaic switch ismounted upon the door above the belt exposed to the cold air in thefreezin" compartment for stopping the motor and hence the delivery ofthe liquid to be frozen as well as the movement of the belt and thedelivery of the frozen pellets when ever the air is not sufficientlycold to insure complete freezing of the pellets. To increase thefreezing rate, the upper pass of the belt rides upon a heat conductingplate cooled by the air which also supports the end oi the belt oppositethe sprocket. This heat conducting plate is laterally adjustable toadjust the tension on the belt. To further improve the freezing there isprovided a guard of polyethylene plastic extending around the adjustableend of the belt and also beneath the lower pass of the belt so as tokeep the partially frozen pellets in the receptacles substantially untilthey reach the drive sprocket at the other end where a chute is providedfor directing the pellets ejected by the drive sprocket into a storagecontainer. The storage container is lodged in a recess in the doorpartially and is pivotally mounted so that it swings against the plungerof a toggle-type switch including a simple spring pressed plunger whichis projected outwardly to an extreme position when the container isremoved to stop the drive motor and which, when the container is full,depresses the plunger until the switch opens also to stop the drivemotor. When the container is in position empty or partially full, itwill move the plunger to intermediate positions in which the circuit isclosed to the drive motor subject to the air responsive thermostaticswitch.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein pre ferred embodiments of the present invention areclosely shown.

In the drawing:

FlGURE 1 is a front view of the inner face of a freezer compartment doorhaving thereon a belt-type ice maker embodying one form of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a modification inwhich an idler sprocket wheel replaces the supporting shoe at the idlerend of the belt in FlG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 4- is a simplified wiring diagram of the ice maker shown inFIGURES 1 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the plunger toggleswitch actuated by t1 e ice pellet receptacle shown in FEIGURES 1, 3 and5 with the plunger shown in the position when the receptacle is removed;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 excepting that the plunger isdepressed by the ice pellet receptacle to normal operating position;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURES 6 and 7 but with the plunger fullydepressed upon the complete filling of the ice pellet receptacle;

FIGURE 9 is a view in elevation of the belt driving and water fillcontrol means;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional along the lines 1111 of FIGURE 10.

Referring now more particularlyto FIGURES 1, 3 and 5, there is shown aninsulated refrigerator cabinet of the frost-free type having abelow-freezing compartment 22 closed by an insulated door 24 and anabove-freezing compartment 26 closed by an insulated door 28. Thebelow-freezing compartment 22 is provided with a false bottom Wall 30beneath which there is a refrigerant evaporator 32 of thefin and tubetype located in an air passage located beneath the false bottom 30 andabove the insulated bottom wall 34. Below the Wall 34 is the machinerycompartment 27 containing a motor compressor-condenser unit which is notshown. An electric motor driven fan 36 draws air from both the belowfreezing compartment 22 and the above-freezing compartment 26 into theair duct passageway beneath the false bottom wall 30 through theevaporator 32 and discharges the air through upwardly extending ducts 38and 40 in the rear wall, respectively, to the below-freezing compartment22 and the, above-freezing compartment 26. The entrance 4-2 for the airfrom the below-freezing compartment to the evaporator compartment isprovided at the front of the false bottom 30. The evaporator 32 is keptat a below-freezing temperature preferably by a thermostatic controlsuch as is illustrated in Patents 3,026,668 and 3,050,961 issuedrespectively on March 27 and August 28, 1962. This control operates therefrigerating system so as to maintain the below-freezing compartment 22normally between the temperatures of +11 F. and 2 F. This air issufliciently dry to prevent the formation and accumulation of frost inthe compartment 22.

Refrigerators of this type are increasingly popular. These refrigeratorsalso command the highest prices. Therefore, it is most likely that addedfeatures at extra cost would be desired by those persons who havepurchased refrigerators of this type. One of the added featuressometimes desired is an automatic ice maker. In

view taken the past these have been made either as separate machines,which are relatively expensive, or a relatively expensive system hasbeen incorporated in a household refrigerator at considerably added costand expense. Adding an ice maker to such a refrigerator has been adifficult problem since the modifications required interfere with thenomral production of such refrigerators. The modifications required inthe refrigerator have been relatively extensive and expensive. Accordingto my inven- 'tion, to avoid making any major modifications in a part ofthe refrigerating system or cabinet which is relatively difficult tomodify, I provide-upon the inner face of the freezing compartment door abelt-type, automatic ice making machine which incorporates all of theelements of the machine so that no other modification of the cabinet orrefrigerating system nee'd'be made in any part thereof excepting thesubstitution of a different freezing compartment door containing theautomatic, belt-type ice maker and the provision of water and electricalsupply connections.

According to my invention, the door 24' is made interchangeable with astandard refrigerator cabinet door for the same model. Thisinterchangeable door 24 is mechanism 54. This mechanism is fastened toinsulating supports 58 extending through the insulation piece 60 and arefastened to the plate 62 of insulating material which serves to closethe cavity 43. This plate 62 is fastened by the screws 64 to the innersheet 46. The sprocket shaft 52 has fixed to the portion extendingbeyond the plate 62 a six-blade sprocket 66 which through its bladesdrives the belt 68 of flexible polyethylene provided with a series ofreceptacles 70.

The upper pass of the belt 68 is supported by having the bottoms of thereceptacles '70 resting and moving laterally upon the conductor plate72. The conductor plate '72 has downwardly extending flanges '74 on bothsides. The rear downwardly extending flange '74 is fastened to the innerface 46 of the door 24 by the screws '76 extending through the slots 78into appropriate threaded apertures in the plastic member 46 forming theinner face of the door 24. These threaded apertures may be reinforced bymetal or additional plastic to pro vide adequate suport for the screwsand the conductor plate 72. The flanges 74 adjacent the shaft 52 may beprovided with slots 8t) in which the shaft 52 is lodged. The oppositeend of the conductor plate '72 is'provided with a semicircular plasticshoe 82 of nylon or similar material which is fastened to the conductorplate '72 by the screws 84. The plastic shoe 82 includes a recessedportion which is inclose to but out of contact with the bottoms of thereceptacle 70 and flange portions 36 which support the edges of the belt68, so that the bottoms of the receptacles 79 will not be contacted asthey pass thereabout. By loosening the screws '76, the conductor plate72 may be moved laterally to provide the proper tensioning of the belt68. In addition, the conductor plate-aids in transferring heat from thebottoms of the receptacles 7t) to the air in the freezing compartment22. This cold air is discharged from the duct 33 through the, aperture39 so that it envelopes the belt 68 as well as the conductor plate 72.This increases. the freezing rate for the water or other liquid which isdisposited in the receptacles. v

' The water or other liquid to be frozen is supplied from a supplysource under pressure through a supply conduit 88 which may extendthrough the hinge 90 of the door 24. Preferably this supply conduit isof some sort of suitable plastic such as a vinyl chloride resin. The endof this tube 88 connects to a nipple 92 leading into the inlet valvemechanism 94 including the valve spring 96 located in the spring chamber98 and provided with a valve seat 121. The valve seat12l is providedwith an clastorneric ring 123 commonly called an O-ring upon which thevalve 125 seats under the force of the spring 96. The valve 125 isprovided with a valve stem 12] extending through a valve stem guide andsealed by the valve packing 129 normally compressed by a gland which isin turn compressed by a spring so as to normally keep the packing 129 insealing engage ment with the valve body 131; Thevalve seat 121 leads.

to an outlet chamber '133 containing the spring for the packing 129.This outlet chamber 133 is provided with an outlet passage 135.

The passage 135 opens into the diaphragm chamber 7 137 containing thetruncated cone-shaped plastic diaprovided with a belt-typeice maker 44on the inner face thereof. The door 24 is provided with a recessed innersheet 46 of suitable plastic on its inner face providing a cavity 48containing a geared driving motor 50 which drives the sprocket shaft 52,a valve control mechanism' phram 139 which is spring pressed to collapseby a diaphragm follower 141 having a stem 1145 extending through thevalve passage M7 in the housing member 149. A conical spring lid-3surrounds the stem 145 and extends between the follower 14-1 and thecasing 149 to provide sufficient force to move the follower 1 -51 andthe diaphragm 135? to its extreme position collapsing the diaphragmchamber 137 in the absence of substantial water pressure. However, ifthe conduit 88 is supplied with water under pressure, the opening of thevalve will depress the diaphragm 139 to fill the diaphragm chamber 137.This fills the chamber 137 with a measured amount of water or otherliquid to be frozen. The

end of the valve stem 12? contacts the cam follower 151 which isslidably mounted in a groove 153 provided in the valve housing. Thisgroove 153 is closed by the removable cover 155 which closes the cam andgear chamber.

A sixdobed cam is fixed to a sprocket shaft 52 and consequently itrotates with the shaft 52 whenever the motor is in operation. Theelectric motor 5!} is provided with internal reduction gearing and hasan external drive pinion which drives the reduction gear 261 which inturn has fixed to it a drive pinion 163 which rives final gear 165 fixedto the drive shaft or sprocket shaft 52 as shown in FIGURE 10. The gear165 and the cam 15'? are formed integrally and are directly mounted onthe shaft 5'2. The shaft 52 is rotatably mounted in a rear bearing 15?and a front bearing 16? located on opposite sides of the combined cam157 and gear After each lobe opens and closes the inlet valve 125, thesame lobe of the cam 157 also opens and closes an outlet valve {71through the cam follower X73 and the valve stem This valve is likewiseprovided with a packing held compressed by the spring 179. The valve 171is adapted to seat upon an elastomeric ring or O-ring 18-33 which isprovided on the shoulder in the spring chamber 12d containing the valvespring 183. This spring chamber 18f. is closed by the plug 2 .85 servingas a retainer for the spring 103. The measuring chamber 3.37 is providedwith an outlet passage 187 into the spring chamber 383. so that when thevalve 171 is open the water or other liquid to be frozen can flow pastthe open valve 171 to the discharge passage 189 which connects throughthe tube 191 with the discharge spout which discharges the liquid to befrozen in separate discharges successively into the individual receptacle "it? as they are moved into position beneath the spout 193 bythe sprocket as. The inlet valve 125 is located 28- in advance of theoutlet valve 171 so that the lobes of the cam 1:77 can be used tooperate each valve in succession through the followers 151 and 1'73. Theinlet valve 125 will open and close to charge the measuring chum er 137before the outlet valve 171 begins to open. The outlet valve 171 and itsfollower 173 as well as the lobes of the cam 15'? are coordinatedthrough the shaft 5?. with the s rocket wheel 66 so that one of thereceptacles is always positioned beneath the discharge spout 193 whenthe valve 171 is in the open position. The measuring chamber 13"]measures the quanity of water or other liquid to be frozen for eachreceptacle 7t If the receptacles 7%) are made larger or smaller, theenclosing housing 149 can be changed to reduce or increase the stroke ofthe diaphragm follower 141 to reduce or increase the amount of water orother liquid discharged into each of the receptacles 70. Since a portionof the discharge spout 193 is exposed to the cold air in the compartment22, there is provided a small electric heater 19S adjacent the end ofthe discharge spent 1% electrically connected across the supplyconductors 272, to prevent the freezing of any of the water or otherliquid to be frozen in the discharge spout 1&3. The discharge spout 1%is held in a grommet 197 of elastomeric material provided in the wall orplate 62..

The water or other liquid to be frozen is cooled by the cold airprevailing in the compartment 22 and especially the cold air which isdischarged from the outlet 3h. In addition, the water in the receptacles7% is further cooled by having the bottoms of the receptacles 79 ride onthe conductor plate '72 which is likewise kept cool by the cold air inthe compartment 22 and especially the cold air discharged from theoutlet 3?. In the past, it has been customary to discharge the frozenpellets from the belt at the end opposite the sprocket 65 after thereceptacles 76 have made the path across the top above the center lineof the sprocket 66. This requires a relatively long belt and arelatively long distance between the sprockets or supports at theopposite ends of the belt. Alternatively, it also may require very coldtemperatures to increase the rate of freezing or slower belt speedswhich reduces the number of pellets frozen per hour. The outside of theliquid to be frozen in the receptacles will be frozen during the upperpass when the belt 68 is driven at normal speeds or faster. However, theliquid in the center of the receptacles 7t) may not become completelyfrozen when it reaches the end of the upper pass.

Consequently, according to my invention, 1 provide a means of holdingthe partially frozen liquid in the receptacles '76 substantiallythroughout the lower pass. This is done by providing a guard or holdingmeans 22% which holds the pellets in the receptacles 7-9 until theysubstantially complete the lower pass. This guard 228 includes asemicircular portion 222 surrounding the shoe 82 which connects with astraight portion 224 beneath the lower pass of the belt 68. This guard22%) prevents the escape of the frozen pellets from the receptacles 7h.Preferably it is of some sort of material to which the frozen liquidwill not readily adhere, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The coldair in the compartment 22 is sumicently dry to prevent the frozenpellets from sticking to the guard during any stoppage of the belt 68.This guard 226 has upwardly extending supporting straps 226 fastened byscrews to the front flange Wt of the conductor plate 72. At the oppositeend of the guard 220 the straight portion 224 merges into a downwardlyextending chute 23%} located directly beneath the sprocket wheel 66. Thesprocket wheel as has ejecting projections 234 between the spokes orblades 236 which engage the bottoms of the receptacles 7b to eject thepellets 232 therefrom which will drop onto the chute 230 and slide intothe receptacle 238 located beneath the chute 239.

So that the receptacle 238 may be centered directly below the chute 23d,the door 24 is provided with a suitable recess 24-9 in which thereceptacle 233 is partially lodged. The receptacle 238 is spacedsufficiently from the face of the recess 24% to provide for thecirculation of the cold air completely around it for keeping frozen thepellets 232. The door 24 is also provided with a pair of book supports24?. connecting with the bore or loop 244 so as to pivot-ally supportthe container or bucket 238 in such a manner that it can be readilyremoved and yet is securely supported. The cold dry air in thecompartment 22 circulates slowly through the receptacle 233 to preventthe pellets 2,32 deposited therein from sticking together. This pivotalsupport also serves a part in the control of the ice making machine. Themass of the bucket or receptacle 233 pivots about the pivotal connectionof the bail 2344 in the pivotal supports 242 to cause it to exert acorresponding force upon the spring pressed plunger 248 of the contr-olswitch 246. This control switch 2% is sunk into the insulation of thedoor behind the lower portion of the bucket or receptacle 238. Theplunger 248 is held in contact Wth the bucket 238 by a spring 253 withinthe control switch 2-46. When the bucket or receptacle 238 is removed,the spring 254) pushes. the plunger 248 outwardly to its fullest extentas shown in FIGURE 6.

The plunger 2 58 is slidably mounted within the casing 252 of the switch2346. Within the casing 252 the plunger is provided with a central highcam surface 256 flanked by the oppositely facing bevelled cam surfaces254 on its inner edge and 253 on its outer edge. A primary lever 26%) ispivotally mounted at an intermediate point upon the upper portion of aZ-shapcd contact member 262. This primary lever 26% includes a camfollower portion shown in FIGURE 6 in contact with the bevelled camportion 254. At the opposite end the lever 266i connects with thecentral tongue of a three-tongued, snap-acting toggle blade 26:;carrying the movable contact 2&5 of the switch mechanism. When theplunger 248 is in its forward, outward position shown in FIGURE 6 whichit assumes when the bucket or receptacle 238 is removed, the

7 cam surface 254 is in engagement with the lever 260 causing thecontact 266 to rest against the stop 268. This stop 268 is notelectrically connected into any control circuit in this installation.However, it could be connected to a warning circuit if desired. Whentheplunger 248 is pushed part of the way in by the replacement of thebucket or receptacle 238 to the position shown in FIG- URE 7, theengagement of the follower of the lever 269 with the cam surface 256will pivot the lever 260 so as to snap the toggle blade 264 to theposition shown in FIGURE 7 in which the contact 266 snaps intoengagement with the switch contact 27! a As shown in the wiring diagramFIGURE 4, this completes the circuit from the supply conductor 272through the switch mechanism 246 and the conductor274 to the beltdriving motor 50 which in turn connects through the thermostatic switch27 6 normally closed under normal running conditions to the secondsupply conductor 278. This wiring diagram also shows the heater 195connected directly across the supply conductors 272 and 27 8 so that itis energized at all times that the refrigerator is in operation. Theconductor 274 connects to the terminal 262 while the conductor 272connects to the terminal 270.

- When the bucket or receptacle 238 is substantially completely filledwith pellets of ice or frozen liquid, the plunger 248 will be furtherdepressed to the position shown in FIGURE 8 in which the follower end ofthe lever 260 is in engagement with the cam surface 258 thereby movingthe snap-acting blade 264 away from the contact 270 to snap the contact266 back into engagement with the stop 268. Thus, whenever the bucket orreceptacle 238 is either removed or filled, the switch 246 will be inthe position shown in FIGURES 6 and 8 in which the contacts 266, 270 areopen to de-energize the motor 50. This prevents the depositing of thepellets 232 either when there is no receptacle there to catch thepellets or when the receptacle 238 is filled. When the unfilledreceptacle'is present, the motor 50 will operate subject to the controlof the thermostat switch 276.

Should an abnormally large w-a-rm food load be placed in the compartment22, there is a possibility that the temperatures in the compartment mayrise so high that proper freezing cannot take place within the timeprovided during the movement of a belt receptacle from the filling pointto the ejecting point. To avoid the possibility of improperly frozenpellets, I provide the snapacting bimetal thermostat 276 on the plate 62directly above the belt 68 as shown in FIGURES l and 5. This switch 276may be set to open at 20 F. to de-energize the motor t) and to recloseat 10 F. to restore the ice maker to normal operation subject to thecontrol of the bucket switch 246. This assures that when the ice maker44 operates, the air within the compartment 22 will be sufiiciently coldto freeze the pellets 232. The door 24 is provided with a strengtheningrib or projection 28ft extending completely around its inner peripherypartially enclosing the ice making machine 44. The space beneath the icemaking machine 44 may be filled by appropriate storage shelves 290 forcans containing frozen juices and/ or packages. These shelves may beformed of heavy wire extending between the. central projection 292 andthe peripheral projection 280.

In FIGURE 2, there is shown a modification in which an idler sprocket284 replaces the shoe 82. It is rotatably mounted by a pin 286 upon theadjacent end of the conductor plate 72. The idler sprocket 284 isarranged so that its projections or blades extend between thereceptacles 70 into contact with the belt 68 between the receptacles 70.The guard 222 extends around the sprocket 284 in a manner similar tothat shown in FIGURE 1. The sprocket 284 and the guard 222 prevent theejection of the cubes from the receptacles 70 as they move from theupper pass through the lower pass. The sprocket wheel 284 is recessedsufliciently between the projections that the bottoms of the receptacles70 will not be pushed outwardly. In this way the partially frozenpellets can be carried around the end of the conductor plate 72 wherethe shoe 82 or the sprocket 284 is located and continue throughout themajor portion of the lower pass in which the belt 68 is supported by theguard 22% until the chute 230 is reached.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows: 1. A pellet freezing machine includingmeans enclosing a compartment containing a gas, an endless belt locatedin said compartment and moveable from an upper pass to a lower pass andreturn, said belt containing a plurality of receptacles, a heatconductor means extending into heat transfer relation with and cooled bysaid gas within said compartment located beneath and supporting thebottoms of said receptacles of the upper pass of said belt, means formoving said belt over said heat conductor means, means for supplying aliquid to be frozen to said receptacles, means for cooling the gas insaid compartment substantially below the freezing point of said liquid,and holding means for preventing the exit of frozen liquid from thereceptacles in a portion of the lower pass.

2. A pellet freezing machine including means enclosing a compartmentcontaining a gas, an end-less belt located in said compartment andmoveable from an upper pass to a lower pass and return, said beltcontaining a plurality of receptacles, means for supplying liquid to befrozen to said receptacles, a heat conductor means cooled by saidgaswithin said compartment located beneath and sup- .porting the bottomsof-said receptacles of the upper pass of said belt, said conductor meansbeing provided with an end support for the belt, a guard extendingbeneath a major portion of the lower pass of said belt and around saidend support adjacent the outer face of said belt for holding the frozensurface of the liquid in the receptacles for prolonging the holding ofthe frozen surface in the receptacles until the liquid is substantiallycompletely frozen and means for moving said belt over said heatconductor means and adjacent said guard.

3. A pellet freezing machine including means enclosing acompartmentcontaining a gas, an endless belt located in said compartment, said beltcontaining a plurality of receptacles, said belt being arranged for anupper pass and a lower pass with the receptacles upright in the upperpass and inverted in the lower pass, means for moving said belt throughsaid upper and lower passes and for inverting the receptacles as theymove from the upper to the lower pass, means for supplying a liquid tobe frozen to the receptacles in the upper pass, means for cooling thegas in said compartment substantially below the freezing point of saidliquid, and holding means for preventing the exit of frozen liquid fromthe receptacles as the receptacles are inverted and move inverted in amajor portion of the lower pass.

4. A pellet freezing machine including means enclosing a compartmentcontaining a gas, an endless belt located in said compartment, said beltcontaining a plurality of receptacles, said belt 'being arranged for anupper pass and a lower pass with the receptacles upright in the upperpass and inverted in the'lower pass, means for moving said belt throughsaid upper and lower passes, means for supplying a liquid to'be frozento the receptacles in the upper pass, means for cooling the gas in saidcompartment substantially below the freezing point of said liquid, and aguard extending beneath a major portion of the lower pass of the beltdirectly adjacent the outer face of the belt for holding the frozensurface of the liquid in the receptacles as the receptacles moveinverted through a major portion of the lower pass for prolonging theholding of the frozen surface in the receptacles until the liquid issubstantially completely frozen.

5. A pellet freezing machine including means enclosing a compartmentcontaining a gas, an endless belt located in said compartment, said beltcontaining a plurality of receptacles, driving means at one end of thebelt for moving the belt and support means at the opposite end of thebelt providing upper and lower passes with the receptacles upright inthe upper pass and inverted in the lower pass, means for supplyingaliquid to be frozen to said receptacles, means for cooling the gas insaid compartment substantially below the freezing point of said liquid,and a guard extending beneath a major portion of the lower pass andaround a substantial portion of one end of the belt directly adjacentthe outer face of the belt for holding the frozen surface of the liquidin the receptacles for prolonging the holding of the frozen surface inthe receptacles until the liquid is substantially completely frozen.

6. A pellet freezing machine including an endless belt containing aplurality of receptacles, a sprocket for driving the belt, a drivingmeans including a sprocket shaft for rotating the sprocket, a measuringcontainer, a supply conduit including a first valve for deliveringliquid to be frozen to said measuring container, a discharge conduitincluding a second valve for delivering liquid to be frozen from saidmeasuring container to said receptacles, a separate carn followerdirectly connected to each of said valves, said sprocket shaft beingprovided with a first cam operatively associated With the cam followerof said first valve; for opening said first valve to deliver liquid tobe frozen to said measuring container and then reclos-ing said firstvalve, said sprocket shaft being provided with a second cam operativelyassociated with the cam follower of said second valve and; coordinatedwith said sprocket to open said second valve after the reclosing of saidfirst valve to deliver liquid through said discharge conduit to areceptacle positioned beneath the conduit, and means for freezing theliquid in the receptacles.

7. A refrigerator including a cabinet having insulated walls and aninsulated door enclosing a storage compartment to be cooled, means forcooling the air in said compartment substantially below Water freezingtemperatures, an endless belt containing a plurality of receptacleslocated in said compartment adjacent the inner face of said door, theinner face of said door being provided With a deep cavity therein, adriving means located in said cavity having a projecting shaft providedwith a sprocket for driving said belt, supply means located in saidcavity responsive to the operation of said driving means for supplyin aliquid to be frozen to each of said receptacles, a plate upon the innerface of said door for closing said cavity, low heat conducting supportmeans extending between said plate and said supply means for supportingsaid means and insulating said supply means from said plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,005 1/32Steenstiup 62-449 X 1,857,122 5/32 Sherman 62-345 2,021,047 11/35Chilton 62-345 2,460,341 2/49 Erickson 62-233 2,487,408 11/49 Askin62-345 X 2,510,400 6/50 Hurley 62-345 2,697,918 12/54 CQmStOCk 62-3532,735,589 2/56 M-ilster 222-3865 2,767,557 10/56 Hubackcr 62-345 X2,735,538 3/57 SchWeller 62-344 2,891,385 6/59 Nelson 62-137 2,982,1115/61 Dahl 62-344 X 3,024,618 3/62 Janquart 62-353 3,055,186 9/62Linstrornberg et al. 62-344 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Examiner.

5. A PELLET FREEZING INCLUDING MEANS ENCLOSING A COMPARTMENT CONTAININGA GAS, AN ENDLESS BELT LOCATED IN SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID BELT CONTAININGA PLURALITY OF RECEPTACLE, DRIVING MEANS AT ONE END OF THE BELT FORMOVING THE BELT AND SUPPORT MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BELTPROVIDING UPPER AND LOWER PASSES WITH THE RECEPTACLES UPRIGHT IN THEUPPER PASS AND INVERTED IN THE LOWER PASS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A LIQUIDTO BE FROZEN TO SAID RECEPTACLES, MEANS FOR COOLING THE GAS IN SAIDCOMPARTMENT SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE FREEZING POINT OF SAID LIQUID, AND AGUARD EXTENDING BENEATH A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LOWER PASS AND AROUND ASUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF ONE END OF THE BELT DIRECTLY ADJACENT THE OUTERFACE OF THE BELT FOR HOLDING THE FROZEN SURFACE OF THE LIQUID IN THERECEPTACLES FOR PROLONGING THE HOLDING OF THE FROZEN SURFACE IN THERECEPTACLES UNTIL THE LIQUID IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY FROZEN.